BARCELONA -- Ranked sixth in the world in the discipline of his choice, 24-year-old triple jumper Brian Wellman represents Bermuda's best chance of winning an Olympic medal for the first time in 16 years.

Wellman's young career has often been plagued by ill-timed injuries but now he is peaking just in time for the biggest meet of his life. The University of Arkansas student is more than pleased with his recent form, especially since a back problem forced him into a brace late in the indoor season.

After placing third in the NCAA Indoor Championships, Wellman had his back problem taken care of and bounced back to retain his NCAA outdoor title in Houston with a leap of 56 feet, two-and-a-half inches.

The jumping ace has carried his form to Europe where he has consistently placed in the top four, his best jump of 55'101 '' coming last Wednesday night in Nice, France, where he placed second behind American medal hopeful Mike Conley, Wellman's assistant coach at the University of Arkansas.

"It has been a month and a half since jumping in Houston and now I'm jumping well,'' said Wellman. "Due to the long period off between the NCAAs and Europe, I was not in jumping shape when I first came over.

"My first meet in Stuttgart, Germany, I ended up jumping 55 feet and a half-inch which was so-so. There were a few technical things which were not working for me, such as my timing on the run-up.'' The Stuttgart meet gave Wellman a chance to iron out the wrinkles and he started to switch into high gear from there on.

He added: "My next meet in Lausanne, Switzerland, was considerably better when I jumped 55-61 . I had a pretty good meet there. My approach was really good in Lausanne, I was board consistent, which is what I need to do here in the Olympic Games.

"If I'm as consistent in the Olympic Games as I was in Lausanne, then it's going to be on...I'm going to have a good Olympic Games, which is what I'm looking forward to.'' Wellman saved his best for last when he jumped in Nice, and though his technique was not at the level he prefers, there were other aspects of the meet that kept the spirits high as he points to August 1 when he is expected to qualify for the final two days later.

"I did have a few problems with my run-up and my board consistency, not being on the board, being behind the board or foul,'' he said. "What I did like about that meet was that I'm jumping really far from point of take-off to point of landing, no matter if it is foul or a legal mark.

"So right now I've got to stay really sharp in practice and hopefully have a couple more jumping sessions between now and the Games so that I can stay on top of the situation and be ready to jump far when the time comes.'' National track coach Gerry Swan will be working with Wellman over the next week after they draw up a training schedule.

"Gerry said I have to work backwards from the day I compete,'' said Wellman.

"I want to get in two quality jumping sessions, approach work maybe twice, three times and a couple of weight sessions.'' Wellman arrived shortly after the sailing team and is happy with his surroundings at the Olympic village.

"The village is great. I've found a training track not far from the village.

Everything that I need to compete at my best is here in the village and I'm happy with that.''